Aquatics Coaching Guide - Special Olympics

Aquatics Rules, Protocol & Etiquette
The Rules of Aquatics
Divisioning Examples for Aquatics
There are many factors involved in the divisioning process in aquatics to ensure fairness and success. One limiting
factor is the size of the event. If it is a local meet where many of the athletes are about the same age and ability, the
divisions will fall into place. If, however, there are many athletes of various ages and abilities, there will need to be
more divisions, resulting in smaller events or heats in particular races. The ultimate goal is to have a competition with
six to eight athletes in one race all competing within the same time frame. This is only likely to happen at extremely
large or age-limited meets, such as school meets.
It is important that coaches enter the current best time (PB – personal best) for each of their swimmers to ensure
correct divisioning and limit the chance of a disqualification for breaking the 10 percent rule. Where time trials are run,
there will be an opportunity to re-squad swimmers based on their adjusted time.
In aquatics, if there are many different divisions to swim and time is a factor, races may be run that include
swimmers from more than one division. The division will be swum together and awarded separately.
Unified Sports Rules
There are few differences in the rules for Special Olympics Unified Sports competition as stipulated in the official
Special Olympics Sports Rules and modifications outlined in the rules book. The additions are highlighted below.
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1. A roster consists of a proportionate numbers of athletes and partners. Although the exact distribution of roster
spots is not specified, a basketball roster containing eight athletes and two partners does not meet the goals of
Special Olympics Unified Sports Program.
2. For aquatics, a Unified Sports team consists of two athletes and two partners of equal ability, competing in the
25-meter and 50-meter freestyle relay or medley relay events.
3. Team sports must have an adult, non-playing coach. Player-coaches are not allowed in team sports.
Protest Procedures
Protest procedures are governed by the rules of competition. The role of the competition management team is to enforce
the rules. As coach, your duty to your athletes and team is to protest any action or events while your athlete is
competing that you think violate Official Aquatics Rules. It is extremely important that you do not make protests
because you and your athlete did not get your desired outcome of an event. Making protests are serious matters that
impact a competition’s schedule.
Check with the competition management team prior to competition to learn the protest procedures for that
competition.
Special Olympics Aquatics Coaching Guide
Created: February 2004